Our point... -- ExUBF's Parlor_Free wheel as far as u can from UBF

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Date Posted: 08:11:27 02/16/05 Wed
Author: Mike K.
Subject: Our point...
In reply to: Chris 's message, "Re: Romans 13" on 07:54:57 02/16/05 Wed

When we conversed, it had mostly the purpose because cults such as the UBF use this verse out of context to justify hierarchies within their own ranks and submission to their leaders even when they are obviously corrupt.

This part was quickly clarified, since we can see from the context that the "authorities" Paul is referring to here are not "church authorities", but "governments of the world", including for instance the Presidency, the Senate, but other than that military, the IRS or even the local food stamps officer...

It still remains a mystery to me at this point, though, where really authority starts or ends, when we are to accept it and when not, what is false and what is true authority, etc... especially because Paul used absolutes and not a relative.

One can of course say "Obey God rather than man" as a cheap buyout here, but if the authority comes from God, then we can NOT sincerely bail out with that here because these people in administration are representing God!

Another tricky deal is: if the current government is legitimate, and I would personally choose to usurp that authority (by means of revolution, blackmail, coercion or whatever), would the legitimate authority move from them to me, since at that point I would become the new authority?

Yes, this verse is really difficult.
I thought I'd found my peace with it, but digging deeper, it looks like a bottomless pit of questions.

In Christ,
Mike K.

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Replies:

Re: Our point... -- Name With held, 05:45:16 02/19/05 Sat
- Re: Our point... -- Chris, 10:34:13 02/19/05 Sat
- Arguing with the Lord -- Mike K., 10:55:51 02/19/05 Sat
  - Re: Arguing with the Lord -- Tony Lang, 05:59:30 03/05/05 Sat